Can the past change? It sounds incredible, but scientists are debating exactly this, with various theories ranging from quantum mechanics to the many-worlds interpretation. If it could, how would it appear to us? The internet is buzzing with wild ideas, so it's time to go over where they originated, and consider in detail what exactly might be causing it.
Hindenburg not the world's worst airship disaster?
- Ian Grogan 0 Comments
Worst airship disaster in history
MMDE: Hindenburg
Current: USS Akron
Ask anyone what was the worst airship disaster in history and they'll most likely say the Hindenburg.
Not only is this incorrect, but chances are they've never even heard of the actual one, which was the USS Akron 4 years earlier.
Operating between September 1931 and April 1933, this was the world's first purpose built flying aircraft carrier. F93 Sparrowhawk fighter planes could actually land and take off from her, albeit in a highly unconventional way, whilst she was in flight.
During a thunderstorm in April 1933, the Akron was destroyed killing 73. By contrast, 36 died in the Hindenburg disaster of 1937. Both occurred over US soil, although the Hindenburg was a German passenger aircraft.
Could the fact no-one seems to recall the worst of these two be connected with the fact the Hindenburg crash was filmed, and the famous "Oh! The humanity!" footage has been seen many times since, so is ingrained in the public consciousness?
O Henri/O Henry
- Sue Verlander 0 Comments
Cabbages and Kings
MMDE: O Henri
Current: O Henry
William Sydney Porter is best known for his novel "Cabbages and Kings", set in the fictitious country of Anchuria, which weaves its way through many connected short stories renowned for their surprise endings.
He wrote under a pseudonym - but was it "O Henry" or "O Henri"? Many are claiming the spelling was Henri, yet all references today show it as Henry.
Porter led a colourful life, and the buzz surrounding the Mandela Effect of his assumed surname would have amused him greatly. Few people realise he's responsible for coining the phrase "banana republic", to describe a country who's economy is both over-reliant on one commodity and usually disfunctional as a result.
Marshall BraveStarr
- Sue Verlander 0 Comments
Greetings from New Texas
MMDE: Power of the Bear
Current: Strength of the Bear
Who can't forget BraveStarr, the Space Western animated series which ran from September 1987 to February 1988? He was forever battling the evil Tex Hex, and his many adventures included the apecats, his trusty sidekick Thirty/Thirty and his ability to call on spirit animals whenever he needed an extra boost.
He could invoke:
- Eyes of the Hawk
- Ears of the Wolf
- Speed of the Puma
But what of the Bear? Currently all references are to the Strength of the Bear, but many swear they remember it as the Power of the Bear.
The Stopped Clock of Bologna
- Sue Verlander 0 Comments
The next train will be delayed
MMDE: Bologna station clock stopped for 16 years from 1980
Current: The Bologna station clock worked properly from 1980
A Mandela Effect from the 1980's has been identified.
This is an early example of a scientifically-studied instance of the Mass Memory Discrepancy Effect, of which the Mandela Effect is a sub class.
The background is that after the tragic atrocity of the Bologna Centrale station bombing, the blast stopped the clock at 10.25am on Aug 2nd, 1980. Many photographs were taken of it at this moment and used as a symbol when reporting the story. It was quickly repaired and worked normally from then on. However, it broke in 1996 and, as an act of remembrance, it's hands were set to 10.25am and it was not repaired.
A team of Italian psychologists, Stefania de Vitoa, Roberto Cubellib, and Sergio Della Sala then decided to study the false memory phenomenon and found most people thought the clock had been stopped for the entire 16 years since the explosion. This includes staff actually working at the station during this time, and many travellers would have seen and relied on it daily during this period.
There was no term for the MMDE at this time, but it sounds to many like the early documentation of a Mandela Effect, or large-scale alternative memory situation.
"Nikolai" or "Nikola" Tesla?
- Ian Grogan 0 Comments
Who knows?
MMDE: Nikolai Tesla
Current: Nikola Tesla
Einstein was once asked what it was like to be the smartest man alive, to which he replied "I don't know, ask Tesla".
Some have a false memory of his name being spelt "Nikolai" whereas all references today show "Nikola".
Best known for his design of the AC electricity supply system, Tesla became largely forgotten after his death in 1943. However, from the 60's onwards science had advanced sufficiently to enable his true genius to be much better understood, and the realisation of how far ahead of his time he actually was.
The alternative memory some have of his first name probably comes from the popular misconception that he was Russian, where the name would be spelt that way. In fact Tesla was Serbian-American.
What color was Tony the Tiger's nose?
- Ian Grogan 0 Comments
Who knows?
MMDE: Tony the Tiger has a black nose
Current: Tony the Tiger has a blue nose
Tony the Tiger: He's been around since 1952, his frosted flakes might have been Greeeeeaaaaat! but what colour was his nose? Many are saying it's only recently become a prominent blue, whereas they have a false memory of it being black - or is the Mandela Effect at play here?
Few people realise he was created as a result of a competition Kelloggs ran to find the official mascot for a brand-new breakfast cereal. Eugene Kolkey, already a well-known graphic artist, came up with the design, won the contest and he's been with us ever since.
Complete with his blue/black nose...
How many arms does Shiva have?
- Walter McEntyre 0 Comments
The auspicious one
MMDE: Shiva has 6 arms
Current: Shiva has 4 arms
There is a 20-metre tall statue of Lord Shiva performing the tandava outside CERN.
It was unveiled on June 8th, 2004 as a gift from the Indian Government. All current images and references show this, and other statues as having 4 arms, but many experiencing the Mandela Effect remember 6. This is particularly interesting since there has been a connection between the Mandela Effect and the particle experiments of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN for some time now.
Often confused with Kali, who has 4 arms, Shiva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism.
